Woodworking Router SBD0905

[scratchbuilt_designs]

The Z-axis is basically a copy of the Z-axis on my UHPC router. A fairly rigid box structure, which goes onto the Y-axis cross plate. The linear rails are bolted to this fixed part.

The spindle mounting plate with the carriers is the moving part. It is a 15mm thick aluminium plate with two 15x45mm reinforcement strips, which act as well as spacers to have enough clearance for the BS nut.

For Z-axis design, I really prefer moving carriers over moving rails. I have 150mm gantry height and 170mm Z-travel.
Fully down, the bottom of the tool holder is 20mm above the fixture plate. No need to lower this completly, since almost every of my tools has a stick-out which is longer...
Fully up, the tool holder is 40mm above the Z-axis bottom, which is flush with the gantry bottom. Means an endmill with 40mm stick-out is flush with the gantry bottom.
With such a design I can make use of the complete 150mm gantry height. How useful this is, you can see in the last pic, which is my current router.

On a Z-axis with moving rails you'd loose with such an endmill roughly 65-70mm of the gantry height, depending on how high the spindle sits on the mounting plate. But usually the holder or the collet nut is below the bottom of the plate for better access of the wrenches...

I will also add an Opt laser to the machine, which can be easily removed when milling.
There is a magnetic docking station for a laser, which is a neat feature.

Dust shoe will also be removable and hold in place with magnets.
I design two permanent air cooling/cleaning nozzles to one side, so dust is blown away from the enclosure door.
A lesson learnt from my current router.

But there is as well a provision for a mist coolant hose...just in case